CHAPEL WORKS WALDRINGFIELD

WOODBRIDGE SUFFOLK IP12 4PT

TEL 0473 36 791 FAX 0473 36 370

CDC GOLF & LEISURE DEVELOPMENTS Ltd. The Golf Course Constructors

J Mm,,

• Detailed greens complex and contours • Drainage calculations and layout • Initial land survey, planning application submission • Specification and Bill of quantities • Budget costings and construction programme • Turf establishment and management. Advice after

completion

WE ARE ABLE TO UNDERTAKE ANY DEVELOPMENT

THROUGHOUT THE WORLD

CDC HORTICULTURAL EQUIPMENT Ltd. CDC Horticultural Equipment has a comprehensive fleet

of maintenance equipment for hire and can supply machines until clients know precisely the equipment that they need to purchase.

The Company specialise in the acquiring and refurbishing of good quality turf maintenance equipment for resale.

v̂ > ¿^)^^Satisfied clients include Golf courses throughout the United Kingdom and Europe.

For The Complete Service Telephone Waldringfield 0473 36 791

I Golf Course

Publisher Michael Coffey

Managing Editor Stanley Ellison

Executive Editor John Lelean

Contributors Jim Arthur BSc Agrie.

John Campbell Ian Greenfield

Group Advertising Manager Marion Risbridger

Classified Sales Chris Slaughter

0372 370177 or 0255 507526

Advertising Production Linda Baker

The Golf Course, incorporating Golf Greenkeeping is published monthly by Park View Publications Ltd.

Editorial, executive and advertising offices: 201-205 Kingston Road, Leatherhead, Surrey. KT22 7PB Tel: 0372 370177 Fax: 0372 362091

Circulation, subscription and advertising production offices: 129a High Street, Dovercourt, Harwich, Essex. C012 3 AX Tel: 0255 507526 Fax: 0255 508483

© Copyright 1989 The Golf Course ISSN 0953 6043

Typesetting and artwork by Fore Golf Publications Ltd., Dovercourt, Essex. Printed by J.B.Offset, Marks Tey, Colchester, Essex.

CONTENTS

I Golf Course

Jacobsen's Greensking at The Belfry

SEPTEMBER 1989

19 How green is your course?

Jim Arthur looks at some of the environmental issues that now face course managers

22 Belfry prepares to defend the Ryder Cup How Derek Ganning and his staff are preparing the

course for one of golfs most exciting events 25

Golf course expansion bunkered Minority self interest and local planners are

blocking the development of British golf courses 34

So you think its easy being a golf course architect David Pottage gives some views on the current situation

facing golf course architects 35

Expansion at Windwhistle A report from Somerset on a new extension for a championship course

36 Last IOG at Windsor

Some of the products on display at the IoG exhibition which is the last at Windsor

Departments

4 Resume

7 Greenside comment

The editor reports on the new Institute 9

Clippings by the Mower 10

From the fairway Letters from our readers

14 Out and about

A round-up of news and new products 36

Company data file Expansion at Lindum

39 Buyers Guide

A product and service information guide to suppliers 47

Appointments

RESUME

FRENCH

C'est en septembre que les fabricants de produits de maintien du turf présentent leurs nouveaux produits à la plus grande exposition en plein air d'Europe qui, cette année, a lieu à Windsor du 19 au 21 septembre. Au cours des neuts dernières années, l'Exposition "I0G Sports & Leisure" s'est tenue aux champs de courses de Windsor, le long de la Tamise. C'est un endoit idéal pour les exposants et démonstrateurs mais la congestion des autoroutes a causé des problèmes aux heures de pointe résultant en de longues files de trafic. En 1990, l'événement aura lieu dans l'Est de l'Angleterre, au champs de foire de Peterborough dont l'accès aux aéroports principaux est aisé et relié directement à l'une des autoroutes principales allant de Londres au nord du pays. La rubrique "événements du mois' dans le numéro de septembre décrit certains équipements les plus récents qui seront exhibés à Windsor. C'est un événement qu'aucun gérant de parcours de golf désireux d'obtenir des conseils professionnels ne peut se permettre de manquer. Le golf est le sport dont la croissance est la plus dynamique du monde et pour lequel la demande de parcours est insatiable. La Grande-Bretagne a environ 2,500 parcours de golf mais dans plusieurs clubs, la liste d'attente des futurs membres est si longue qu'on risque de perdre des juniors prometteurs. Nous étudions les problèmes auxquels les suturs constructeurs de terrain en Grande-Bretagne doivent faire face en particulier les difficultés avec l'administration de l'aménagement qui n'est pas toujours favorable aux projets d'utilisation de terres agricoles non rentables pour des nouveaux parcours de golf. Jim Arthur, un collaborateur régulier, doute de l'influence des "Verts", les groupes de pression de l'environnement qui, dit-il, ont fort exagéré leur cas. De nombreux produits qui contrôlaient insectes nuisibles et maladies sur nos terrains de golf ont été interdits donnant lieu à des surdoses massives de produits chimiques autorisés. Il proteste également contre la plantation excessive d'espèces étrangères sur les terrains de golf britanniques aux dépens des arbres indigènes. Septembre est aussi le moin de la compét-ition bisannuelle des meilleurs joueurs de golf d'Europe et des Etats-Unis. Cette année, le match aura lieu sur le terrain de Brabazon à Belfry qui a été préparé à la perfection par le responsable, Derek Ganning.

SPANISH

Septiembre es el mes cuando los fabricantes de productos para el cuidado del césped a nivel mundial introducen sus nuevos productos en la exhibición al aire libre más grande de Europa, la cual se va a realizar este año en Windsor del 19 al 21 de septiembre. Durante los últimos nueve años, la IOG Sports and Leisure Exhibition se ha llevado a cabo en el Windsor Race Course, a un lado del Támesis. Un sitio ideal para exhibiciones y demostraciones, pero el congestionado sistema de carreteras se ha vuelto difícil a las horas de mayor tráfico, provocando largas colas de vehículos. En 1990, el evento se mudará al East of England Showground en Peterborough, el cual se encuentra todavía al alcance de los aeropuertos principales, pero con acceso directo mediante una carretera principal desde Londres hacia el norte. El artículo Out and About en el número de este mes presenta detalles de los últimos equipos que se presentarán en Windsor. Un evento que no deben perderse los gerentes de campos de golf en busqueda de asesoría profesional. El golf es uno de los deportes que está creciendo más rápidamente en todo el mundo, creando una demanda de instalaciones de juego que no puede satisfacerse. Gran Bretaña posee alrededor de 2.500 campos de golf, pero la lista de espera para hacerse miembro en muchos clubes es tan larga que es probable que los jóvenes prometedores no entren al deporte. Examinamos los problemas con los que se encaran en la actualidad los urbanizadores potenciales en Gran Bretaña, en particular las dificultades con las autoridades locales de planeación las cuales no siempre simpatizan con planes en donde se emplean terrenos agrícolas no productivos para la construcción de nuevos campos de golf. Un colaborador regular, Jim Arthur, custiona la influencia de los "Verdes", los grupos de presión ambiental, los cuales desde su punto de vista exageran bastante el caso. Muchos de los productos empleados para controlar plagas y enfermedades en nuestros campos de golf se han prohibido, provocando el empleo masivo de las substancias químicas permitidas. También impugna el plantío excesivo de especies extrañas en los campos de golf ingleses a expensas de los árboles nativos. Septiembre es también el mes de la competencia bienal entre los golfistas más importantes de Europa y los EEUU. Este año el certamen se realizará en el campo de golf Brabazon en Belfry, preparado a la perfección por el Gerente del Campo, Derek Ganning.

GERMAN

September ist der Monat, wenn auf der größten Freilandmesse Europas in Wind-sor vom 19.-21. September neue Rasen-pflegeprodukte aus aller Welt vorgestellt werden. Die IOG Sports & Leisure Exhibition findet schon seit neun Jahren auf dem am Themseufer liegenden Gelände der Pferderennbahn von Windsor statt. Obwohl das Gelände ideal für Veranstal-tungen und Vorführungen geeignet ist, ist die Autobahn in der Hauptverkehrszeit oft verstopft, was zu Verkehrsstauungen führt. Daher wird die Messe im Jahre 1990 nach dem East of England Showground bei Peterborough in Nähe der Hauptflughäfen und mit direkter Verbindung zur Hauptverkehrsstraße von London zum Norden verlegt. Der Sonderartikel dieses Monats "Out and About" enthält Einzelheiten über einige der aktuellsten Anlagen, die in Windsor zu sehen sind — ein Ereignis, das kein Golfplatz-Manager vermissen darf, wenn er fachmännischen Rat benötigt. Golf ist der global am schnellsten wachsende Sport, und die dadurch geschaffene Nachfrage nach Golfplätzen kann nicht bewältigt werden. Großbritannien verfügt über rund 2500 Golfplätze, aber die Wartelisten zahlrei-cher Klubs sind derartig lang, daß diesem Sport wahrscheinlich viele talentierte Junioren verlorengehen. Wir untersuchen die Probleme, mit denen sich die Grundstückerschließer heute in Großbritannien auseinandersetzen müssen, besonders was ihre Schwierig-keiten mit kommunalen Planungsbehör-den betrifft, die nicht immer sympathisch auf die geplante Neuanlage von Golfplät-zen auf unrentablem Ackerland reagieren. Jim Arthur, unser ständiger Mitarbeiter, befaßt sich mit dem Einfluß der "Grünen", der Umweltinteressenverbände, die seiner Ansicht nach ihre eigene Sache viel zu stark auftragen. Nachdem viele Pflanzenschutz- und Schädlingsbekämpfungsmittel für Golfplätze verboten worden sind, werden die zugelassenen Chemikalien massiv überdosiert. Weiterhin erhebt er Einwendungen über die übermäßige Bepflanzung der englischen Golfplätze mit ausländischen Gewächsen zum Nachteil einheimischer Bäume. Außer der Messe findet im September auch die Golf-Biennale zwischen den Topspielern aus Europa und den USA auf dem Brabazon-Golfplatz bei Belfry statt, der unter der meisterlichen Aufsicht von Derek Ganning, des Managers, steht.

After 18 years of development you'd expect our new greens turf to

have one or two advantages. For 18 years, scientists at Queen's University, Belfast worked to solve the perennial problem of annual meadow grass. The result is a unique seed mixture of Chewings fescue and browntop bent for our exclusive new greens turf, Rolawn Advantage. It's a significant breakthrough and represents another important milestone for Rolawn, Europe's finest turf grower.

So what are the advantages? • First, no annual meadow grass means the

smoothest textured, "greenest" green for your members (and your committee).

• And Rolawn Advantage is actually guaranteed supplied free of annual meadow grass.

• There's also the option to have Rolawn Advantage closer mown to bring the green into play even earlier.

• There's fast delivery nationwide (within 12 hours of harvesting) from Rolawn's own network of Turf Depots.

• And of most importance, there's peace of mind -

R o l a w n m o

through Rolawn's fastidious reputation for quality. Quality achieved through meticulous checking of every part of every field. (Ask any top greenkeeper and he'll tell you as much).

If other turf growers promise similar advantages, just check their credentials.

You can check ours by filling in the coupon and sending (FREEPOST) for the Rolawn Advantage Information booklet. Even better, you could book an inspection visit to see the turf for yourself. We'd be delighted to welcome you.

To: Rolawn Ltd., FREEPOST, Head Office, Elvington, York. Y04 5DH Please send me without delay my copy of Rolawn Advantage - The Ultimate Greens Turf • I/we should like to inspect the growing turf • Please send details of your other turf and how I can obtain it • TGC/9/89 Name: Club/Business:

Rolawn Tel No- ADVANTAGE ADVANTAGE

P E ' S F I N E S T T U R F ROLAWN LTD. , E L V I N G T O N , Y O R K , E N G L A N D . Y 0 4 5AR TEL: ( 0 9 0 4 - 8 5 ) 661

One of the most complete coring machines available for fine turf work-golf greens, cricket wickets bowling greens etc. The Greenkeeper is availableas a pedestrian or ride on version and is unique in the fact that there is a range of 8 easily detachable heads.

The High Speed Contractor For faster deeper aerating suitable for the couser work - Fairways, Tees, Aprons, Football pitches, Outfields etc] A pedestrian self propelled machine (a sulky seat is available to convert to ride on) is powered by a 8h.p engine and will core 21,250 sq ft per hour tines are available.

THE TM100 A compact tractor mounted Hollowtiner The latest edition to the range that is suitable for a wide range of situations, For all how fining applications the MULTICORE must be your first choice...

See us at Windsor IOG Stand NO.Q39-40

For further details or demonstrations please return the coupon or contact:-

five famtfy fin* aid tU PersonalS^wice

l a w n f i l o u i c r SPECIALISTS LTD

SANDY LANE, LOWER DARWEN, BLACKBURN. TEL:<0254) 672424

•ma-i 1 Please send me more information |

on the Multicore range.

Name Company. I I I I I I I I I I I I M II I I I

Address • 111111111111111111

11

" I 1

i f P 1111111111 M 1111111

"Tel 1 i \j * 111111111111111111111111111111111111 M 1111 * T

The Greenkeeper

New Institute formed

A group of leading golf course manag-ers representing a number of Eu-

rope's most prestigious golf courses have announced the formation of a profes-sional association to be called the Insti-tute of European Golf Course Managers. The Trustees of the Institute say the aims of the association will not be counter to the objectives of the existing Greenkeepers Association, but the In-stitute will endeavour to work and liase with all the official golf bodies in a joint effort to improve standards throughout the golf course industry. Membership in the initial stages will be granted on application through a selec-tion committee procedure and will be awarded to those with proven ability currently controlling golf courses in Europe. Members of the new Institute that have a high level of experience will be eligible for election of Fellows and be entitled to use the initials - F. Inst. EGCM. The annual subscription to the Institute of European Golf Course Managers has been set at £100, which includes certifi-cation, a badge and a copy of the Insti-tute's official publication. The publishers of this magazine are pleased to announce that The Golf Course has been invited to represent the Insti-tute's interests. Although many of the course managers on the Continent already enjoy a similar status to their colleagues in North America, those in Britain, despite their undoubted skills, recognised through-out the world as leading authorities on course management, have not achieved similar recognition in this country.

The formation of the Institute of Golf Course Managers will be able to ensure that the highest standards are main-tained and play an active part in the future development of leading head greenkeepers and golf course managers. Since the announcement by David Jones, Course Manager at St. Pierre, of the formation of the Institute, there has been a high level of response from lead-ing managers and owners of the most prestigious golf complexes throughout Europe. Many companies involved in supplying the golf industry have already made contact with the Trustees welcoming the initiative and offering assistance towards the formation of the Institute, which they believe is necessary to project the highly professional standards required in Europe. For further details of the Institute of European Golf Course Managers con-tact David Jones at St. Pierre Golf Coun-try Club, Chepstow, Gwent. (0291 625261).

Power Force

• 12 Month Warranty Choice of Finance Arrangements • National Spares & Service Network

SISIS SISIS EQUIPMENT (Macclesfield) LTD., Hulley Road, Macclesfield,

Cheshire. SK10 2LZ Tel: (0625) 26363 Fax: 27426 Telex: 669795 SISIS Centre In Scotland, The Roundel, Middlefield Industrial Estate,

Falkirk. FK2 9HG Tel: (0324) 29635

Serving Groundsmen and Greenkeepers for nearly 60 Years

i

SISIS now offer a range of p.t.o. driven implements for use with suitable compact tractors. The range includes top-dressers, Rotorake, sweeper, aerator, sprayer and spreader. Full details from your SISIS Area Representative or by contacting us at the addresses below.

Ask for a Demonstration!

All SISIS machines are designed, patented and manufactured in Great Britain.

CLIPPINGS By The Mower

Alio 'alio Headingley Head Greenkeeper, Peter Blacker has had headlights fitted to his Toro Greensmaster so that the greens can be cut before dawn ahead of the early morning golfing brigade. Night-time activity on the golf course however attracts considerable interest from the local con stabulary and the greenstaff member finishing a sweep across the putting surface suddenly found two policemen framed in his headlights. They said ¿hey thought it was a couple of louts riding motor cycles around the course.

More clippings American greenkeepers have created a problem for themselves which is proving a bit of a head-ache. What to do with their grass clippings? Because of the growing practice of using boxes on fairway mowers vast quantities of grass cuttings are generated and there is nowhere to put them. If dumped on the edge of the rough it is not long before the piles build up and there are complaints about the smell. It would seem that it is not the custom for American greenkeepers to make their own compost as there is no call for compost dressing on sand greens.

Expensive drinks Fancy an exotic golfing break? Two brochures dropped on the desk this month, the first from Vodka producers - Smirnoff who are promoting a ten day trip to Zimbabwe in November, visiting five different golf clubs, sightseeing trips to game parks and the Victoria Falls for a mere £1,651! Looking through the itinerary it would seem the Smirnoff cocktails start at Heathrow and continue unabated throughout. There is even an after breakfast visit to a distillery on day three, before 18 holes at the Chapman Golf Club. Whisky giant, Johnny Walker have also moved into the upmarket amateur golf scene in a big way with a ten day Pro-Am promotion at the 36 hole Dorado Beach Club in Puerto Rico. This little jaunt will set you back £3,750, but if you don't want to sit with the peasants in the economy part of the aircraft from Heathrow, for jus t another £1,200 a seat can be reserved in the first class section. If your golfing partner snores (do you know one who does'nt?) then the Hyatt Hotel will provide a room on your own for another £1,200.

The professionals must be jostling for an invitation for this trip. For thfem it is - free of charge!

Ryder remembered Visitors to the 'Open' at Troon may have spotted the shining gold Ryder Cup on display in the tented village, but how many know there is also another? A replica in silver was given to the Ladies section at Moortown Golf Club by Samuel Ryder in appreciation of their efforts in the organisation of the 1929 staging of the first match on British soil, when George Duncan lead the home side to victory. It is proudly played for annually by the Moortown Ladies.

America in the UK Canadian Course Superintendent, Ken Siems invited 30 Secretaries and Greenkeepers from Sussex to see his new golf course at Horstead Place in East Sussex, but only seven took time out to turn up. Surprising, considering he has produced a magnificent course sown with Pencross, Penneagle and Pennlinks for greens, tees and fairways and had the place open for play within only seven months of seeding. The North American bent grasses are immaculate according to a colleague who visited recently. It is in such superb condition the British Team used the course for practice before setting off to Peach tree and regain the Walker Cup. To ensure they were familiar with American conditions.

Big bid Ransomes are quietly celebrating their two hundred years in business though they did not become involved with grass cutting until 1832. Initially a farm machinery manufacturer, Ransomes have now moved out of agriculture completely to concentrate on amenity turf machinery and they have jus t announced a major acquisition, (see page 14).

No education in Wales The Welsh Golf Union have received a rebuff from their member clubs, having generously offered to pay half of the costs of sending greenkeeping staff on training courses at Mold, a college not as yet approved by the Greenkeeper Training Committee, only two clubs responded. No doubt the remainder thought that they could not afford the other half or that they can't spare their staff.

Thoughts on irrigation

I felt that I have to put peri to paper after reading Jim Arthurs latest article on irriga-tion. I have known Jim for some years having the benefit of his knowledge in preparing my previous course for the final qualifying rounds for the British Open in 1981 and again in 1985. We also served on the Greenkeeper Training Committee to-gether. I am a great believer in his common sense approach to greenkeeping, if not always the manner in which it is dispensed. However, I do not agree with his views on irrigation techniques as so far as golf greens are concerned. Jim describes infrequent irrigation as a hearsay. To me it is an efficient way to produce firm, fine greens with a good depth of root. As in all things there are extremes, such as suggesting that one whole weeks irrigation be given in one night. I have never heard, suggested that once per week is the norm, rather at three or even four day intervals, maximum. In practice I have personally used two to three week intervals on the greens of the eighteen hole par 3 course attached to my previous club. The key is, not only an efficient irrigation system, but perhaps more important an efficient drainage system, if you are to avoid the 'water logged bogs' that Jim describes. In the case of the par-3 course, I used hoses and impact drive sprinklers, which could cover the complete green. These would run for up to two hours. The greens were well aerated and we experienced

very little run off, even on featured greens. Of course this was carried out at nightime. These greens were and I believe still are, predominantly festuca with some agrostis, but during summer, no poa annua, al-though it always seemed to appear in the spring. But believe me it could not tolerate the irrigation technique I have described and very soon disappeared when the first dry snap arrived. Even two weeks after irrigation, the rootzone, some six to seven inches down. Jim, in more than one report stated that in his opinion the main course greens would one day be as good as the short courses were! There, are to my mind, two main flaws to Jims argument. The first is that poa annua in most cases, tends to be shallow rooting and surely applying 250 gallons per night (not much more than the capacity of the average sprayer) is pandering to just that. That amount of water is not going to soak down to the roots of the finer grasses we wish to encourage and more than once I have heard the term 'make the root system go looking for water' and I take this as downwards, not upwards! There is also of course, the danger of losing the hydraulic pull if the upper strata is allowed to dry out too much. We all know where this leads. Re-wetting the soil prob-lems and subsequently dry patch. I have always, as far as is possible, tried to work with nature and in the natural run of things. It does not rain for five or six minutes every night!. Askyourselves a question. You are irrigat-ing during a hot spell and there is a thun-derstorm, - What do you do? Many systems have a 'rainstat' fitted, but

if you don't, in most cases you will turn the system off. When will you put the system back in operation? - When the greens look and feel like they need it - I hear you say. Exactly, and if this is not heavy infrequent irrigation then I don't know what is! I use the same system to clear bermuda grass fairways of poa annua and in tem-peratures of up to 40c it does not take long! It is just too hot for it to work on the greens, which are pure sand, sown with Penncross bent. These greens drain too quickly. The second point concerns timing for this type of management. This system has been used in the United States with good results and has been featured in the Green Section Record, the quarterly magazine of the U.S.G.A. Green Section. Before I hear the old cliches concerning American methods, it should be pointed out that many states have climatic condi-tions similar to the U.K. and this must be borne in mind when it is suggested that their methods are not applicable in Britain. After all who were the first to use 'pop-ups', Cushmans, ride on greens mowers and many otherthings now in common usethis side of the Atlantic. I have written my thoughts, not to be controversial, but to encourage an ex-change of views and ideas. Experimentation is so important, trying something new does not mean that you have to stick with it. Lets hear more from the men in the firing line on this type of subject.

Peter A Wisbey Area Golf Superintendent

TrustHouse Forte Portugal.

F . H I R D & S O N S Nationwide suppliers of railway sleeper and crossing timbers. Wooden and Concrete, all

grades suitable for retaining walls, roads, path edgings etc. Prices available for delivery or collection from all areas.

For further information phone BARBARA

Doncaster (0302) 831339

GREENSWARD ENGINEERING CO HIGH QUALITY RECONDITIONED AND GUARANTEED TURF MACHINERY

KUBOTA B7100 HST 4W/D c/w Mid Mower KUBOTA B8200 4W/D KUBOTA L345 4WD34hp MASSEY FERGUSON 20E 45hp c'w cab TORO Greenmaster 300 new engine RYAN JR3 Turfcutter SISIS Scarifiers and spikers from SISIS Litamiser 6' PTO driven sweeper RANSOMES 2130 triple mower RANSOMES 3 trailed gang mowers RANSOMES 3 hydraulic gang mowers L L O Y D S 5 gang mowers on Parkover frame £3950 r-

LEEDS (0532) 751627 Harold Terrace, Headingley, Leeds LS6 1PG

Ring NOW for full machinery list. National delivery arranged.